Day 9 - Layers

Discovered on my walk

This sumptuous rose

with delicately cut-out petals

How to resist such beauty?

The Spring Equinox - 2017

Equinox

meaning "equal night".

It happens when the sun shines directly on the Earth's equator,

providing equal amounts of day and night time 

to both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

From March onward, the days will get longer until the summer soltice in June.

At this time of the year, there are many beautiful flowers which could represent

the first day of spring.

Down by the lake recently, I saw the first Magnolia tree starting to bloom.

These particular flowers are particularly vibrant in colour

they quite take my breath away!

As the petals open to reveal the stamens, the petals become paler

and have this wonderful transparency about them.

These opening buds were on the lakeside and got more sun.

On the other side, the buds were still quite closed.

I hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are.

Happy first day of spring to everyone who comes my way!

I just learned, from a fellow photographer, that the lovely yellow blossom above

is called Spiked Winterhazel or Corylopsis spicata!

***

I have been very busy with a new project during this last half of March

which meant that I didn't do a new blog entry.

I will be posting again at the beginning of April!

The Last of the Violas

My balcony garden loves to be full of flowers

and the first ones I plant are always pansies and violas.

But at some point in time, they start to grow very leggy

and it's time for me to pick them in profusion

and fill my pots and tiny vases with these

delicate blooms.

I love the variety of their colours

and the watercolour reflection of these on the glass surface

Playing with reflections

and on the kitchen table

the tiniest yellow jug you could ever imagine!

These flowers make me happy...

I think it's those little pansy faces that seem to be looking at me

to say hello!

Blue and Yellow make Green

Dreamy layers of blue

in which I could lose myself

A strong breeze had created patterns on the lake

alternating ripples and smoother areas of lighter, shiny blue.

Each yellow Japonica flower radiates sunshine and spring energy

And when we mix blue and yellow

we get those varied shades of green.

Dancing catkins in the wind challenging me to catch a sharp image!

For a real spring mood

take a light blue sky

add a few fluffy wind-blown clouds

and an overhanging bough of fresh young leaves

New leaves unfurling in the warmth of the bright sunshine

against a backdrop of mottled blues and greens

A touch of white flowers whose name eludes me as I write

and a chestnut tree whose generous leaves provide such welcome shade

in the hottest months to come

I couldn't resist this touch of pink

of cherry blossom so sweet

it goes so well with green, don't you think?

It's impossible to have a favourite colour in spring

for as each one appears

it is my favourite in the very moment I see it!

Today

on this first day of May

Let us enjoy

what Nature brings us!